confuse

verb

con·​fuse kən-ˈfyüz 

confused; confusing

transitive verb

1

: to disturb in mind or purpose : throw off

The directions she gave confused us.

2

a

: to make indistinct : blur

Stop confusing the issue.

b

: to fail to differentiate from an often similar or related other

confuse money with comfort

Do not confuse the words "flaunt" and "flout."

c

: to mix indiscriminately : jumble

Their arms, legs, and bodies were confused together, till they resembled … two serpents interlaced.

—Thomas Medwin

3

: to make embarrassed : abash

4

archaic : to bring to ruin

confusingly

kən-ˈfyü-ziŋ-lē 

adverb

Synonyms of confuse

• bewilder
• perplex
• baffle
• puzzle
• befuddle
• embarrass

Examples of confuse in a Sentence

The general was trying to confuse the enemy.

The new evidence only confused matters further.

You must be confusing me with someone else.

Recent Examples on the Web

The Care and Keeping of You did not (further) frighten or confuse me. —Literary Hub, 10 Nov. 2025

Arora, a father of two, told the idea for the reel came from watching men confuse obedience with love. —Daniella Gray, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Nov. 2025

The New Glenn spacecraft is not to be confused with Blue Origin's much smaller New Shepard rocket that the company launches from West Texas on brief trips taking paying passengers high above Earth's atmosphere. —Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 10 Nov. 2025

The Farmers’ Almanac will be gone for good after its final 2026 edition, not to be confused with The Old Farmer's Almanac, a separate publication. —Alex Perry, Cincinnati Enquirer, 7 Nov. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English confusen, back-formation from confused "frustrated, ruined," participle based on Anglo-French confus, borrowed from Latin confūsus, past participle of confundere "to pour together, blend, bring into disorder, destroy, disconcert" — more at confound

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 4

Rhymes for confuse

• accrues
• accuse
• aircrews
• amuse
• bamboos
• breakthroughs
• canoes
• cashews
• chartreuse
• construes
• defuse
• ensues

Kids Definition

confuse

verb

con·​fuse kən-ˈfyüz 

confused; confusing

1

a

: to make mentally foggy or uncertain : perplex

the complicated problem confused us

b

: to cause to be embarrassed or upset

2

: to make unclear : blur

stop confusing the issue

3

: to make disordered : jumble

the cords were all confused together

4

: to fail to tell apart

teachers always confused the twins

confusedly

-ˈfyüz(-ə)d-lē

adverb

confusingly

-ˈfyü-ziŋ-lē 

adverb